Business

For the 21st year, the Lowell Chamber of Commerce invites the community to see what businesses and organizations offer through this Expo.

This free event is the chance for residents of the community to discover the story behind, over 150 local businesses and organizations in the area. There will be entertainment, displays, giveaways, raffled door prizes, food and beverages.

Visit the Lowell High School located 11700 Vergennes Street on Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 9:00am – 3:00pm.

LowellArts! announces they have purchased two properties in downtown Lowell to create a new gallery, workshop and performance space.

Since the late 1970s, with the generous support of King Milling Company and the Doyle families, LowellArts! has made its home at 149 South Hudson St. In recent years the organization has grown and its audience has expanded to the point that they now require a new home that offers sufficient space to showcase art, conduct workshops, and host theater/musical events.

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich.— A ‘Battle of the Buildings’ is underway in West Michigan, and the winner gets to keep more of their money.

The U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan says more than 14 Grand Rapids area businesses have signed up for the competition to reduce energy usage. Participants include Steelcase and Spectrum Health, JSJ Corporation in Grand Haven; Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Steelcase in Kentwood; The Grand Rapids Art Museum; Kent Intermediate School District; Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park; Aquinas College; Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo; the Muskegon County Hall of Justice and Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming.

KENT COUNTY, Mich.—A new bank is moving into Meijer stores across the area.

Huntington Bank is partnering with the retailer to open 43 branches within Meijer stores, a dozen of which are in the greater Grand Rapids area. The bank says the deal will create 250 jobs within the state and make Huntington the third largest bank branch network in the state. Huntington says the partnership will bring its company workforce up to 2,300 people.

The announcement comes months after Chase began notifying customers it is closing its Meijer store branches. A spokesman for Meijer told WZZM 13 “circumstances have changed and we mutually agreed to end the relationship.”

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.– A homeowner in Eastown is getting $10,000 to renovate her place.

Cami Estep won the giveaway contest by the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids and Option 1 Credit Union. The two groups launched the contest in February, during the Grand Rapids Remodeling and New Home Show.

“Our home is more than 100 years old, so the possibilities for projects are endless,” said Estep. “We were already planning on redoing an upstairs bathroom, but our furnace has been making some interesting noises lately, so we may choose to replace our aging heating and cooling system instead!”

Although she may not know exactly how to invest the money yet, one thing is for certain-- Estep and her family are very grateful for the HBA of Greater Grand Rapids.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Jamie Clover Adams encouraged the state's fruit growers to complete the 2014 Fruit Acreage Inventory being conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).